Crisis Communication - Opinto-opas

Students who have completed this course or have acquired equivalent competence will be able to:
- understand the specific nature of crisis communication from the perspective of organisations, communications professionals, public and media (traditional and social media)
- identify key stakeholders and identify and categorize them
- understand the importance and impact of crisis communication to the reputation and brand
- analyse and implement different crisis response strategies
- apply crisis communication approaches in the different phases of a crisis:pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis
- be able to develop a crisis communication plan

- Specific nature of Crisis Communication; objectives and challenges
- Stakeholder management
- Recognizing and identifying crises
- Classification and prioritisation of crises
- Planning crisis communication
- Managing reputation and expectations
- Theories and concepts of crisis communication
- Crisis simulation exercises (excluded from virtual implementations) and workshops

When the implementation type of the course is CONTACT, ONLINE or BLENDED it is required that the student is present during those teaching hours that are marked in the study schedule. If you are absent more than 25 %, your grade will be lowered by one. If you are absent more than 50 %, the course is failed.

Students can describe concepts and methods related to crisis communication. He/she is able to identify internal and external issues that might lead potential crises. He / she is able to recognize the different stakeholders and their needs in a crisis and can plan crisis communication.

In addition to the competences required for grade 1, students can monitor and anticipate the operating environment from a crisis communication perspective and understand the importance of crisis communication to stakeholder management, employees, the brand and reputation. He/she can create a crisis communication plan.

In addition to the competences required for grade 3, students are able to apply different crisis response strategies and strategically justify chosen approaches. They are are able recognize and prioritize issues and plan communication accordingly. Ability to apply theoretical insights to the crisis communication plan is at a very good level and students demonstrate excellent commitment to the course schedule.

The course consists of 6 modules:
1. Introduction
2. Stakeholder management
3. Issue prioritization
4. Expectation management
5. Crisis Response Strategies
6. Crisis Communication planning

For each module there is a lecture in Pasila on Wednesday and Individiual / group work on Friday. So for each themes listed above:

1. Teacher will introduce the theme on Wednesday
2. Students individually or in groups apply the theme in an assignment

Typically this assignments will be done on the same week's Friday during the Friday calendar slot.

The course includes a compulsory assessment of one's own learning.

Coombs, W. T. 2007. Protecting Organization Reputations During a Crisis: The Development and Application of Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Corporate reputation review, 10(3), pp. 163-176

Mitchell, R. K., Agle, B. R. & Wood, D. J. 1997. Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining the Principle of Who and What Really Counts. The Academy of Management review, 22(4), pp. 853-886

Ferguson, D. P., Wallace, J. D. & Chandler, R. C. 2018. Hierarchical consistency of strategies in image repair theory: PR practitioners' perceptions of effective and preferred crisis communication strategies. Journal of public relations research, 30(5-6), pp. 251-272

In addition, learning materials are published in Moodle and students must independently search for information about their chosen organizations / industries and crisis cases.

Current cases and/or cases are discussed and analyzed and in assignments, students are encouraged to analyse cases relevant to own work / industry. Guest lectures.

Pasila Campus

No re-exam is available for the course.

The course grade is determined on the basis of the introductory (Module 1) Exam, and on the basis of the assignments returned by the final DL, according to the evaluation criteria. After this, possible supplementing or raising the grade takes place in accordance with the degree regulations.

Note! Repeated delays can also affect the course grade, because a grade of 5 requires that "The student stays on schedule."

English

Learning material is international

18.08.2025 - 10.10.2025

Assignment 1 Exam 0 - 15 points Assignment 2 Stakeholder Analysis 0 -10 points Assignment 3 Issue Prioritization 0 -10 points Assignment 4 Expectational Gaps 0 -15 points Assignment 5 Exam Crisis Response Strategies 0 - 20 points Assignment 6 A Crisis Communications Plan 0 - 20 points + Assignment 6 B Crisis Simulation 0 / 10 points Assignments 1, 5 and 6 A are individual assignments and other assignments are group assignments done during scheduled classes on Friday Total 100 points

14.05.2025 - 22.05.2025

See Lukkarikone. The 6 modules are:

1. Introduction
2. Stakeholder management
3. Issue prioritization
4. Expectation management
5. Crisis Response Strategies
6. Crisis Communication planning

CONTACT
IBE5PACOM
EXCH

RPL

If you have gained skills matching your degree goals for example through work experience, volunteer work, hobbies or other studies than higher education, you can show your skills and competences through demonstrations. Contact Anna Kimberley to get instructions.

WORK-BASED LEARNING

You can complete elective studies through work-based learning, if your work tasks support your degree’s learning goals. Work-based learning at Haaga-Helia is called Work&Study. It means that skills required by the degree are gained by working and by connecting practical work with a theme-related knowledge base. In addition to paid work also volunteering or hobby activity can be used.

If you want to discuss whether work-based learning is for you, contact Anna Kiblerley who will instruct you on how to proceed.

Mirka Sunimento

15 - 45

INTBBA International Business

0.00 cr

H-5